Colorado Wedding and Portrait Photographer – Jennifer Schumacher Photography

Here is a slideshow of Jonathan’s return from Afghanistan – you may remember the post from last week with my favorite images.   I felt the whole story needed to be shared.  The images record Rebbecca’s anticipation as she waits for Jonathan’s flight to land and the joy as they are reunited.  There was one other family waiting for another service member who shared Jonathan’s flight so they are also a part of the story.

You may remember the post from earlier this week I did for Anita and Jason with oplove.  The images documented Jason’s final days with his family before leaving for Afghanistan.  Well, Yesterday I was invited to document a special homecoming.  Jonathan was returning home from Afghanistan and his wife, Rebecca, asked me to photograph the event. Just witnessing Rebecca’s nervous anticipation as she stared longingly at the airport arrivals door and to witness her joyous run to the gate when Jonathan entered made my heart melt.

Here are the images to document his homecoming.

I loved Rebecca’s sign.

Rebecca nervously waiting in the airport terminal for Jonathan’s flight.

I loved this sequence when Rebecca first saw Jonathon walk through the airport door.

Thank you for inviting me to document Jonathon’s safe return.  And thank you for the sacrifice your family made for our country.

If you are part of  a deploying, depolyed or returning military family then look at Operation: Love Reunited (oplove for short) for details on the program and to find participating photographers.

Today I was privileged to photograph a family that is making a huge sacrifice for all of us.  Jason will be leaving for Afghanistan next week but before he leaves his wife, Anita, wanted to get some special family portraits created to make their time apart a tiny bit easier.  Step in oplove.  Oplove provides family portrait sessions for deployed military families.  These photos will be shipped directly to Jason overseas so he has a personal memory of his family during his time away. I am awed by the sacrifices families like Jason and Anita  make and I am honored to provide this portrait session for them.

Anita got a little emotional during her time with Jason.

Thank you for invting me into this moment of your life. I can’t wait to get the call to do your return photos.  Which, if all goes well, I get to photograph another family later this week who is returning home.  Watch the blog for news.